Cyclone Hockey again opened the weekend with a game that went into a shootout, like last weekend. Once again, the Cyclones came up short by one goal in that shootout.

This time losing to the Illinois Fighting Illini, 4-3.

The Cyclones took a 2-1 lead into the second period after Chase Rey and Zack Johnson netted the first two goals of the opening period. Grant Stueve countered for the Illini to keep the score close through one period.

John Olen scored 1:29 into the second period for Illinois on a power play goal to tie the score at two. Fourteen minutes later, Eric Cruickshank gave the Illini the lead at 3-2 on another power-play goal.

Johnson once again found the back of the net, his second of the night, for the Cyclones to tie the game at three at the 9:25 mark in the third period.

Both teams went scoreless the rest of the way, leading to a scoreless five minute overtime of four-on-four hockey.

In the shootout, both the Cyclones and Illini missed their first-round shots before Cruickshank sank the would be game winner in the second round of the shoot out to give the Illini the win.

The two teams will meet up again on Saturday night to complete the series at the University of Illinois Ice Arena starting at 7:30 p.m.